DISCLAIMER: I don't own any characters or settings.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: this was a very early work of Peeta and Katniss fic. I only did it when I'm bored…..

Takes place after the book Hunger Games.

Ill just give you a recap: Peeta now knows Katniss was faking it in the arena and now they have to pretend to be lovers again for the Capitol.

….

I hear Peeta sigh behind me, his expression sober. "One more time?" he asks me. I find his hands interlocked with mine in a tight grasp. I don't want to let him go because if I do, he will be gone. I inhale deeply in the Capitol air until I could hear the roaring of the crowd, welcoming the star crossed lovers of District 12.

"Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark!" Caesar Flickerman slides in front of us, with big bobbing eyes outlined with makeup, electric blue hair and lips, engraved in purple. I remember the last time I went here, up in the Capitol stage, curled in Peeta's lap. Of course I was acting, but was he? Are all those declarations in our deathbed true? Did he really love me even if that would bleeding to death? I look at his blue eyes, sparkly and outlined in deep lines of red around his pupils.

I realize Peeta pulling me into a dark red loveseat, shaking hands with the figure behind us. I wave at our audience and find them roaring louder. "I'm so glad to be here!" I lie, forcing a big fake smile and find Peeta doing the same.

"Yes we all know that," Caesar sits down and we do the same. "But what we don't know is, if the fire between the star crossed lovers still flaming?"

I laugh and Peeta laughs with me. "Depends on how flaming is it to you." He answers for me then pulls my hips closer to him. I kiss him straight from the lips, enjoying the last sensation I know I wont have the next time I step out.

He pulls back, "is this flaming enough?" he asks the crowd whom I know is probably cupping their ears, not daring to miss one wretched lie. I can hear the crowd answer, roaring like mad. I never knew such blood-thirsty, game-hungry Capitol would support such mush.

"Katniss, the girl on fire." Caesar turns to me then staring at an empty space, adoring such title as genius as Cinna would have made. "You look absolutely mesmerizing tonight, mind if you twirl for me?" He points out to my gown; obviously, Cinna did an amazing job to make me look beautiful. i lift my heavy dress, engraved in gems I don't recognize. At first I swear I saw coals but Cinna told me when seen in bare sunlight , would have turned translucent red as rubies.

"Not this time, Caesar. I don't think I want to fall off the stage." I laugh, my hand still tight in Peeta's grasp.

"That's too bad." Caesar's voice, disappointed though still smiling, "It's only sometimes we experience things like this."

I see Caesar's point but Peeta mumbled something before I could reply. It took time for it to make sense then I finally realize what he said. "That, I disagree. She looks beautiful everyday, then at least to me. That's why I love her." His voice was filled with enthusiasm, like there was trueness in his voice. He smiles at me, his grasp even tighter. Did he really love me? Back then at the arena when I was covered in a mix of blood, camouflage and a frightening gaunt figure which I know noone in the right mind would call attractive. And he called me beautiful?

My lips tremble when I catch Peeta's gaze, searching at the back of my skull for words.

"Looks like we have a pretty lucky fellow over here." Caesar Flickerman turned to the audience, both hands up. "I think all of Panem agree!"

The next few minutes of the interview, Peeta dominated the conversation. Making a joke of camouflaging as cakes and how he would end up in my teeth marks since I had such a sweet tooth. Then he would talk mostly about me then to the lamb stew I told in my first interview, the most impressive thing in the Capitol. I just stayed quiet. Occasionally laughing, nodding and reciting his name every time I blush.

The bell rings and Caesar tells us to leave the stage since the interview just ended. Peeta and I make one last wave of goodbye to the very now insane crowd. I see them flip banners of me and Peeta from the arena and then make our way to the exit, still hand in hand.

"That was great sweetheart." I see Haymitch and Effie in the dark panels of wood backstage. I drop Peeta's hand when Effie turns to hug me, patting my shoulder, telling me she cried when Peeta made his statement. Cinna comes in, checking if one of my rubies hasn't fallen out during the interview. I look around for Peeta, wanting badly to apologize from hurting him a few days ago, I turned around back and forth then Haymitch finally mumbles.

"Katniss, he left."

What do you think? Short? PLEASE REVIEW.